Maerua parvifolia Pax

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Tonorai Primary School, Birchenough Bridge, Save Valley.

Photo: Mark Hyde
Camp by Turgwe River, Humani Ranch

Photo: Mark Hyde
Gumani Hill, Humani Ranch

Photo: Mark Hyde
Camp by Turgwe River, Humani Ranch

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Maerua hirticaulis Gilg & Gilg-Ben. Maerua legatii Burtt Davy
Common names:	Dwarf bush-cherry (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Small woody shrub up to 2 m tall with stiff rigid branches. Leaves clustered on dwarf side shoots or occasionally also alternate, simple, obovate, up to 2 cm long, grey-green, leathery, hairy; margin entire. Flowers solitary or in pairs on the side shoots. Sepals green; petals present but very small, white; stamens 15-25, c. 1.5 cm long. Fruit bean-like, pendulous, c. 5 cm long, somewhat constricted between the seeds.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	parvifolia: with small leaves.
Habitat:	Occurring in hot and dry woodland, often on termite mounds.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Oct - Jan
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mpumalanga, Limpopo, South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	T,MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 13 July 2019
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 162. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 38. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 238. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 32. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 44. Wild, H. (1960). Capparaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 223 - 225. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Maerua parvifolia:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Maerua parvifolia
Flora of Malawi: Maerua parvifolia
Flora of Zambia: Maerua parvifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Maerua parvifolia

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Maerua parvifolia
African Plant Database: Maerua parvifolia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Maerua parvifolia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Maerua parvifolia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Maerua parvifolia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Maerua parvifolia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Maerua parvifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Maerua parvifolia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Maerua parvifolia
Plants of the World Online: Maerua parvifolia
Tropicos: Maerua parvifolia
Wikipedia: Maerua parvifolia